Urumqi (TDI): Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal has said that the world is witnessing a major geopolitical and economic shift, with Central and South Asia fast becoming new centres of global growth.
Speaking at the Tianshan Forum for Central Asia Economic Cooperation in Urumqi, Xinjiang, the minister underlined the importance of deepening Pakistan–China cooperation, particularly in industrial development, agriculture, technology and people-to-people exchanges. He highlighted the success of ongoing joint initiatives and called for accelerating collaborative projects under regional frameworks.
Chinese Finance Minister Lan Fo’an, in his opening remarks, said the CAREC platform had made notable headway and must now broaden its scope to ensure greater benefits for the region’s populations.
Charymuhammet Shallyyev, Director of the CAREC Institute, described the forum as a bridge connecting policymakers, financial institutions, private-sector representatives and researchers. Since establishing its physical base in Urumqi in 2015, the institute has completed more than 180 research studies and trained over 2,000 government officials through 150 capacity-building programs, he said.
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The two-day forum, held under the theme “Unlocking Connectivity and Investment in Central Asia,” brought together officials and experts from CAREC member states to discuss trade, transport, energy, and digital linkages across the region. More than 300 participants attended, including representatives from think tanks and regional financial institutions.
A key development at the event was the launch of a Central Asia Fiscal Cooperation Research Center, jointly established by the CAREC Institute and Xinjiang’s regional finance department.
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Central Asia, positioned at the crossroads of Eurasia, has become increasingly important for regional economic flows. Trade between China and Central Asian nations has surged following the first China–Central Asia Summit in May 2023, reaching 94.8 billion USD in 2024. Xinjiang, sharing borders with multiple Central Asian states, continues to strengthen its role as a critical Belt and Road hub.
